Adventures By Cycle

Someone once asked me about inspiration. More specifically what inspired me. I immediately thought of when I was on the crew for my brother at the 2013 Leadville 100 Trail Run. The Leadville 100 is one of the most coveted, challenging, grueling, intense ultra races in America. When my brother asked me be a crew member for his race it simply didn’t register that a person could run 100 miles. That is not possible. During the race I started to examine the other racers. Female, Male, short, tall, skinny, large, old, young. You get the picture. There was no formula for the people on the course that were giving their heart and soul in pursuit of the finish line. It then dawned on me that these people had more in common than meets the eye. Deep down we are all made of the same molecules and atoms. We are all fundamentally the same. It’s whats in here and in here that count (I’m pointing at my head and my heart.) That is what inspires me. We are all capable of great things. I believe we just need to know what we want and what makes us happy. Then we are free to pursue our dreams.

I remmber when I first read this quote. “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” What it implies is that anything is possible. We set our limits with our minds. Which for anyone who was worked tirelessly and unwaveringly to reach there goals knows to be a simple truth. My brother was known to say “Impossible is Nothing”. He to was aware of this often forgotten truth. By now you may be wondering why I bring this up in my about me section. Well, shortly after the Leadville 100 trail race my brother passed away. He had an accident on the Mississippi River. He was a person I thought was nothing short of invincible was gone in an instant. It shook me to the very fundamental of my being. The day I found out he passed away was the hardest day of my life. It was also the most important day of my life.

From that moment I finally knew I had nothing except present moment. I started running the day I returned home from his celebration of life. I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I remember the taste of iron in my lungs as my heart pumped beyond its limits. I remember all the hate. I remember all the anger. I also remember all the sadness and fear I felt. It was also the day I decided that one day I would run the Leadville 100 and spread my brothers ashes on top of Hope Pass, Colorado.

Since my brother passed away August 31st, 2013 my life has been blessed with new experiences, new adventures, and new friends. I started living my life with the appreciation of every moment. To cherish both the good and the bad. I, who had never left the united states, have now traveled to 6 other countries. I have competed in over 10 ultra races. I have completed the Leadville 100 and spread my brothers ashes across Hope Pass.

Live Inspired.

The top of Hope Pass, Colorado. About mile 55 on the Leadville Trail 100.